Conditions perfect for bass fishermen

Warm weather and staging bass adds up to perfect conditions for the fishermen at Clear Lake this week. "Unbelievable" is how fishermen found the action during Sunday's American Bass Association (ABA) team tournament held at Clear Lake. The winning team of Brad Amodeo and Will Wong weighed in a five-fish limit of 37.95 pounds.

The ABA tournament fielded 49 teams and it took nearly 31 pounds to get a check. I know of no lake in the country where a fisherman has to average better than 6 pounds per fish to finish in the money. What was even more astounding was the average weight of 5.09 pounds per fish. This is fourth tournament held in the past two months where the average weight per fish exceeded 5 pounds.

Just about every technique is catching bass and that includes swimbaits, Alabama Rigs, jigs, drop-shotting a plastic worm and live jumbo minnows. The bass are definitely staging in the shallows. For example, bass can be seen swimming around the docks at Library Park in Lakeport. The tules from Lakeside County Park to the State Park are holding a lot of bass. Another good area has been Long Tule Point. The flats off Rodman Slough continue to provide excellent action for those casting an Alabama Rig or LV500 lipless crankbait.

In some areas the bass are heavily concentrated. Bass are also being caught in the south end of the lake near Rattlesnake Island and near Redbud Park in Clearlake. Bank fishermen have been scoring at Library Park and Lakeside County Park. The water temperature Wednesday reached 58 degrees in some areas. Next week rain is forecast to return to the area and the temperatures will drop.

Without question the Alabama Rig (also known as the Umbrella Rig) has been the hot lure on the lake. It originally consisted of five wires with three swimbaits that have hooks and two teasers. By California law only three lures can have hooks but an unlimited number of hookless teasers can be used. Some fishermen have improvised by adding seven or even nine teasers. The entire rig is cast and retrieved slowly. To a bass the rig looks like a school of bait fish swimming. In fact, to win a tournament you just about have to use an Alabama Rig. Many fishermen say the reason the weights have been so huge on Clear Lake is because of the rig.

The outstanding fishing on the lake has also drawn dozens of fishermen. On any given day the parking lots at the ramps have been jammed with boat trailers. The local fishing guides also report they are booked full for the next several months. There is no question the excellent fishing is good for the local economy.

Angler's Choice will hold a team tournament out of Redbud Park on Saturday and the weigh-in starts at 3 p.m. The lake will also be jammed with fishermen prefishing for the upcoming Clear Lake Team Bass Tournament scheduled for March 23-24. To date 45 teams have entered the tournament and at least 100 teams are expected. Based on a 100-team field the winning team will receive $5,000 and second place will be worth $2,200. Last year's tournament drew 113 teams. The entry fee is $200 per team and includes the daily big-fish option. Entered in this year's tournament is Congressman Mike Thompson, who is teamed with Manny Mendoza. Fishermen can sign-up for the tournament as late as 5 p.m. on March 22 at the chamber office located on Lakeport Boulevard in Lakeport.

A few fishermen have been targeting bluegill and are doing well. Some of the fish are weighing up to 2 pounds. Catfish action also has been good. Crappie action has been slow.

Trout action should be excellent at Upper Blue Lake as the lake was stocked this week. Lake Mendocino is scheduled to be stocked next week. The water at Lake Mendocino is stained but trout are being caught near the dam. Upper Blue Lake should produce a lot of trout for both boaters and bank fishermen.